Scandal-ridden Tenri University judo program suspends operations

OSAKA – Tenri University on Thursday announced its elite judo program will cease activities until it takes steps to prevent physical abuse.

A day after the judo department head, Shozo Fujii, stepped down to take responsibility for the physical abuse of first-year students on the men’s judo team, four fourth-year team members were suspended from school for 30 days, starting on Aug. 26.

On Thursday, both the Tenri manager Saburo Tosa, and its captain, 73-kg world champion Shohei Ono, also resigned from their posts.

In different incidents from May to July, four fourth-year members of the men’s team had slapped and otherwise abused first-year teammates.